Oil change and other changes

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Chas, I think you're 100% absolutely right, but even if my true system capacity was not known, I think you're method is way too much/difficult for the "Oil Change For Dumbies" type person that I am.

I don't know about that. I can see your post now: "So here I am on my first oil change on the Cobra, and after removing all the oil pan bolts, I had some trouble breaking the RTV seal between the pan, gasket, windage tray, gasket, and block. Any tips on how to make these oil changes easier?"

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I don't know about that. I can see your post now: "So here I am on my first oil change on the Cobra, and after removing all the oil pan bolts, I had some trouble breaking the RTV seal between the pan, gasket, windage tray, gasket, and block. Any tips on how to make these oil changes easier?"

Actually, I thought it would faster and easier to loosen and remove all those bolts thingees on the side of my CSX block near the oil pan first, then begin the final procedures as outlined above.

Chas, 7 quarts? The Aviaid pan hold 9 quarts.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Chas, 7 quarts? The Aviaid pan hold 9 quarts.

My whole point was that because a vessel's capacity may be X, does not mean it's best for the engine (which is dynamically in many different positions other than flat and level) to run at that capacity.

I know by measurement that my 8 qt Canton runs best at 7 (in the pan, static) with nearly an inch gap to the tray. With 1.75 qt in rest of the system, the sump does not pump itself dry. Pat, speaking for myself, my Shelby heads and the block's valley do NOT hold a ton of oil. Attention to the oil drains on assembly assured that.

Ray runs a 460, 385 with at least an 8 or 9 qt capacity pan with no ill effect with 7 in the pan and at least 4 in the whole system.

There's just no need to run so much excess oil IN THE PAN. And since you asked the question and described your situation, Pat, Doug, John, Fred, Ray and myself have told you that there's a better, safer way.

Your engine has no greater oil requirement than a rebuilt 390-Joe builds 70% of his ERA-based FE's that way.